How do you pronounce “David Michie”?

A few months ago, if anyone had said I’d be writing a blog on how to pronounce my name, I’d have told them they were mad. Only a completely self-absorbed narcissist would think that a subject worthy of a blog. And I’m not one of those. Or am I?!

It’s true that most people mispronounce my surname in a variety of different ways. But I’ve had decades to get used to it, and it really doesn’t worry me.

So why am I writing this blog? I can answer that question in just two words: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

I recently had the great privilege of meeting the legendary psychologist who, along with Martin Seligman, established the positive psychology movement. Apart from having the most spectacularly un-spell-able surname, even his first name had me stumbling. Was it ‘Me-hale-ee?’ or ‘Me-high-lee’? Was the ‘y’ silent? Which syllable was emphasized?

In the Speakers’ Lounge at the conference where a number of us congregated, it became clear that I was not alone in my uncertainty. Approaching the great master to shake his hand, most people seemed to either swallow his name, or avoid saying it altogether. Mihaly was unmoved by this. But other people felt awkward. And it occurred to me that being comfortable saying someone else’s name is a necessary first step in developing a relationship.

As it happened, a Buddhist nun gave me the key to his name. ‘It’s Me-high, Cheeks-send-me-high,’ she told me laughing. Easy when you know how.

So to cut to the chase, my surname is not any of the favourite mis-pronunciations – ‘Mit-chee,’ ‘Mike-ee,’ or ‘Mick-eye.’ It is, very simply, Mickey. As in Mouse.

It’s a Scottish name, and Aberdeen is the only city in the world where everyone knows how to both spell and pronounce it because there are so many Michies. To be purist, the Scottish pronunciation has the ‘ch’ part of the name patterning ‘loch.’ But since that’s a sound most English speakers don’t make, and when they do are liable to become phlegm-flecked in the attempt, it’s probably safer just to stick to the Disney version.

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David Michie Author

Oh wow! I would’ve never guessed, I have been sticking to Mit-chee for way too long hehe. And I have been enjoying your Dalai Lama’s Cat series for a long time as well, looking forward to the movie. Warm regards all the way from Chile!

Lynn

Thank you. You are correct in the admission that correctly pronouncing another’s name is important. I think it shows respect and carrying enough to ‘make the effort’ (I was pronouncing your name Meshe, wow was I off!)
I truly enjoy your blogs and those of your books I have read.
Thank you

David Michie Author

Reid

Having somewhat recently gotten into genealogy, the secrets of correct pronunciation are always silent. After Googling it for the past 30 minutes I can say no one seems to be quite sure how to say it! I am happy to finally find an answer from the Scottish horse’s mouth.

If you’ll indulge a quick story…

My dad once told me that my great-grandpa would become angry at people who would pronounce it “Mitch-ee” or “Mick-ee” because we’re Scottish, not Irish, darn it! So he gave up and just told everyone to say “Mish-ee,” which has stuck since, even in our own family.

I asked my dad if he told everyone to say “Mishee,” then what is it /supposed/ to be? Taken aback, he said he honestly never thought about it. How strange to not know your own name! Then again, English is a vastly changing language.

Thank you very much for this article, I suppose. Now I must re-evaluate my entire life…

David Michie Author

Thanks so much for sharing this story, Reid. Many purists would be shocked by my acceptance of ‘Mickey’ but trying to get the world to say the name with a Scottish ‘ch’ is, I feel, a step too far! Warm wishes, David

As someone with the “Americanized” version aka Mickey I am amazed that people still have an issue with it. My family can be traced back to Ireland and then to Abderdeenshire. I have had a ridiculous time trying to trace the Mickey version of the spelling and finally figured out, after research, that someone just basically butchered the spelling centuries ago and it was originally Michie…makes way more sense than anything else I have come across.

David Michie Author

Chris Michie

I can only offer my own personal experience but as a Scot who bears the name Michie and used to live in Aberdeenshire, I can testify that the vast majority people there pronounced my name Me – chie (with the ch pronounced as in loch).

Now that I live in America, I get everything under the sun. I empathize.